Adapting to the COVID-19 world

Some members of RFUANZ have mentioned that the Department of Conservation (DOC) concession process and interpretation by DOC seems to differ from region to region, which can greatly affect concession charges for the applicant. We are interested to hear if members would like RFUANZ to work with DOC to clarify and tidy up the concessions?

Please let us know any issues that you have had with DOC concessions, and any areas that you would like to be addressed.

The rural broadband industry is able to have their first three years of concessions waived under the Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI). RFUANZ would like to see what DOC would be willing to do for our members with new concession applications.

I look forward to hearing from you with any feedback you can provide on these matters.

At our meeting in September, the RFUANZ committee decided to move to bimonthly newsletters. As there will not be a newsletter in November, I urge you to attend the annual meeting of RFUANZ via Zoom if possible. Alternatively, please complete the proxy form, available on request from our administrator.

We have had one vacancy on the RFUANZ committee for several months, with a further two members standing down at the upcoming meeting. Therefore again, I urge you to please complete a nomination form if you know of someone within your company who would be interested in joining the committee.

Any costs incurred by the member in order to belong to the committee will be covered by RFUANZ, including a per-meeting attendance rate, paid at the end of the 12-month term. The committee meets once per month, via Zoom, for approximately 1 to 2 hours.

The RFUANZ AGM will be held via Zoom at 4:00 pm on 11 November 2020. You are invited to attend. We require a minimum representation of at least 30 as we have a change to our Rules that needs to be adopted at the AGM.

To register for the meeting, please contact admin@rfuanz.org.nz.

As per Clause 15.5 – Alteration of Rules: These Rules may be changed by a special resolution of a meeting of Members at which at least 30% of the members are present.

This means we need to ensure at least 30 members are present, or have submitted a proxy voting form, in order to adopt the change to our Rules. The remit to be tabled is that the current Rule 19.1: Definitions and Interpretations, be amended as follows to include postal voting: “Post” or “Postal” can include “Electronically” in all instances where written notice either of an annual general meeting, ballot vote or termination of membership appears in these Rules.

The reason for this is that this year during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been unable to hold our annual general meeting, nor gather in numbers for any occasion. In today’s technological world we have been able to continue with work as usual, using Zoom and webinar meetings. A move to adopt posted items electronically will enhance this further, with a much better, faster and more economical form of communication.

Included with the AGM papers, to be mailed out early next month, will be a proxy form that we request you complete and return your vote regarding this Rule change.

Also with the AGM papers will be a nomination form that needs to be completed and returned to our administrator, should you or someone you know of, who is a current financial member of RFUANZ, wish to be a representative on the RFUANZ committee. For more information, please contact either myself or Candice, admin@rfuanz.org.nz, or post to PO Box 40-525, Upper Hutt, 5140.

Corey Weir

Chairman

Radio Frequency Users Association of New Zealand